Trace-fastener



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL H. HULL, OF PLANTSVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

TRACE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,462, dated June 21, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DANIEL H. HULL, of Plantsville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented lan Improvement in Trace-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l represents the end of the trace with my fastener attached and shown in two positions. Fig. 2 represent the several parts which form the fastener separately detached.

This invention consists in riveting to the outside of a trace, where it is placed upon a button on the end of the whiifle-tree a metal plate of a somewhat elliptical form, or of any other suitable shape, and forming the cock-eye of the usual size and shape in this plate so as to admit the flat button of the while-tree and securing the trace to said button by means of a spring-lever, or,

more properly, a latch, for the purpose ofA preventing the trace from getting accidentally etached from the whifiie-tree, at the same time preventing, to a great degree, the wear of the trace at this point. 1

The metal plate is represented by A; this is riveted at each end to the trace strap, B, and has an elliptical orifice through it, and an orifice corresponding to this is made in the strap, B. A latch, C, having one end slightly beveled and the other circular, lits into a recess, corresponding to. its shape, in the plate, A, covering, when closed, nearly one half of the cock-eye in s aid'plate; this latch, C, is kept in place, viz., in a closed position, by a coiled spring, D, which is fitted into a depression in both the circular portion of the latch and in the plate, A, the ends of this spring, D, being respectively attached to the latch and plate. A pin, E, passes through the center of the circular portion of the latch and is riveted to the plate, A; this forms the pivot upon which the latch moves, and serves as a fulcrumwhen opening the plate. A small knob, F, is riveted to the extreme edge of the circular portion of the plate, and Iagainst this is placed the thumb when the traces are to be attached to the whife-tree--by pressing upon this knob the latch is opened, and the button of the whiffle-tree can be passed through the cock-eye; and when this is done the pressure is relieved and the latch springs back in its place securing the trace securely to the Whittle-tree.

This fastener for traces, Iabove described, is cheap and eEective, and, when placed upon the ends of the traces, presents a handsome and neat appearance, and, being made of metal, it will withstand the wear and tear to which it is subjected, better than those in common use without getting deranged or worn out.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination and arrangement of metal plate A, spring latch C, spring D, and knob F, substantially in the mannerv and for the purposes herein set forth.

D. H. HULL.

Witnesses Lucius UPsoN, LEMUEL CLARK. 

